REPORT  ON  CHINA 


OF  THE 

Commission  on  the  Orient 

OF  THE 

World’s  Sunday-school  Association 

Presented  at  the  World’s  Seventh  Sunday-school  Convention, 
Zurich,  Switzerland,  July  8-lS,  1913 


The  Commission  on  the  Orient,  including  Hawaii, 
Japan,  Korea,  China  and  the  Philippines: 

Chairman  : Mr.  H.  J.  Heinz,  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. 

Secretary;  Mr.  Frank  L.  Brown,  247  New  York  Ave.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Janies  B.  Rodgers,  D.D.,  New  York  City. 

Rev.  James  L.  McLaughlin,  Manila,  Philippine  Islands. 

Rev.  Harry  Farmer,  Manila,  Philippine  Islands. 

Rev.  W.  Nelson  Bitton,  D.D.,  Shanghai,  China. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Lacy,  D.D.,  Shanghai,  China. 

Rev.  E.  G.  Tewksbury,  Shanghai,  China. 

Rev.  R.  E.  Chambers,  Canton,  China. 

Rev.  Kajinosuke  Ibuka,  M.A.,  D.D.,  Tokyo,  Japan. 

Rev.  H.  Kosaki,  D.D.,  Tokyo,  Japan. 

Rev.  T.  Ukai,  Tokyo,  Japan. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Dunlop,  Kanazawa,  Japan. 

Rev.  George  Heber  Jones,  D.D.,  New  York. 

Rev.  S.  A.  Moffat,  D.D.,  Pyeng  Yang,  Korea. 


The  section  of  the  Oriental  Commission  report  herein  given  appears  (in  part) 
in  “World-Wide  Sunday-school  Work,”  the  Official  Report  of  the  World’s  Seventh 
Sunday-school  Convention,  which  contains  also  similar  reports  on  Hawaii,  Japan, 
Korea  and  The  Philippines,  and  reports  of  the  Commissions  on  Continental  Europe, 
South  Africa,  India,  Latin-America,  and  Mohammedan  Lands.  The  volume  con- 
tains 664  pages,  with  70  pages  of  illustrations,  and  may  be  had  for  $1  from  the 
World’s  Sunday-school  Association  (American  Section),  Metropolitan  Tower, 
New  York  City.  For  information  as  to  this  and  other  pamphlet  reprints  of  the 
Commission  Reports,  apply  to  the  same  address. 

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Rev.  W.  A.  Noble,  D.D.,  Pyeng  Yang,  Korea. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Holdcroft,  Pyeng  Yang,  Korea. 

Hon.  Wm.  R.  Castle,  Honolulu,  Hawaii. 

Mr.  Theodore  Richards,  Honolulu,  Hawaii. 

Rev.  Henry  P.  Judd,  Kahului  Maui,  Hawaii. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Cowan,  Kohala,  Hawaii. 

Rev.  Floyd  W.  Tomkins,  D.D.,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  H.  M.  Hamill,  D.D.,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Rev.  Dillon  Bronson,  D.D.,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Hon.  Samuel  B.  Capen,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Rev.  Fred  P.  Haggard,  D.D.,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Rev.  J.  Ross  Stevenson,  D.D.,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

In  that  part  of  the  Orient  represented  in  the  report  of  this  com- 
mission, namely,  Hawaii,  Japan,  Korea,  Philippines,  China,  we  have 
an  aggregate  population  of  500,000,000,  one  third  of  the  human  race. 
Against  the  mass  we  place  the  Bible  school  membership  of  these  coun- 
tries— 500,000.  But  in  doing  so  we  do  not  forget  David  and  Goliath 
and  the  pebbles  of  God’s  word,  nor  Gideon  and  his  band,  nor  the 
great  promise  that  “one  shall  chase  a thousand,”  the  exact  propor- 
tions of  this  contrast,  and  as  we  recall  that  “two  shall  put  ten  thou- 
sand to  flight,”  we  thank  God  for  the  margin  and  move  on. 

In  the  Orient  we  are  standing  at  the  most  marvelous  moment  in 
Christian  history.  The  time-worn  religions  of  these  countries  are 
crumbling.  They  are  not  sufficient  for  the  modern  life.  They  do  not 
relate  morality  and  religion.  The  light  of  education  is  dissolving  the 
awful  shadows  of  superstitions  that  have  for  centuries  blighted  the 
individual  and  the  home.  The  educated  young  people  of  these  countries, 
the  hope  of  the  future,  are  refusing  en  masse  the  claims  of  the 
old  religions  and  stand  facing  the  new  day  without  any  religion  ex- 
cept as  they  have  known  Christ.  The  educators  and  national  leaders 
are  facing  the  alternative  of  constructing  nations  without  a foundation 
in  moral  or  religious  character,  or  to  build  upon  Christ.  The  priest- 
hood of  the  old  religions,  affrighted  by  their  loss  of  grip,  are  making 
futile  efforts  to  retrieve  lost  ground,  and  by  feeble  imitations  of  Chris- 
tian methods  are  seeking  to  galvanize  the  corpse  into  life. 

The  solemn  question  comes  to  this  generation.  Shall  we  allow  this 
wonderful  moment  when  the  steel  is  in  the  making,  when  the  great 
purpose  of  the  coming  and  the  death  of  Christ  can  be  fulfilled  to 
these  people,  to  pass  by,  never  to  be  regained?  Or  shall  we  count 
ourselves  the  trustees  of  the  Cross  for  this  generation  and  legislate 


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and  give  of  life  and  means  and  pra3’er  to  save  a race?  If  we  fail  to 
do  this  we  have  robbed  the  people  of  their  inheritance. 

The  problems  of  the  Orient  are  at  once  the  most  stupendous  and 
fascinating  in  the  world’s  thinking;  stupendous  because  of  the  enor- 
mous populations  involved ; fascinating  because  dealing  with  ancient 
civilizations  at  the  most  strategic  moment  in  all  their  age  long  history. 
The  impact  of  the  West,  and  a Christian  West,  is  swaying  this  mass 
of  humanity  toward  Christ.  Eager  hands  are  held  out  toward  the 
Christian  leadership  of  the  world  asking  for  help  adequate  to  the 
great  need  for  uplift.  Undismayed  by  the  greatness  of  the  task,  with 
absolute  confidence  in  the  sufficiency  of  Christ,  the  Sunday-school 
forces  of  the  world  hold  out  to  the  myriads  of  these  countries  the 
uncorrupted  Word  of  God  as  the  Bread  of  Life  for  their  hunger — as 
fed  to  each  life  by  the  hands  of  the  living  teacher  in  the  institution 
of  the  Sunday-school,  and  the  ideals  of  that  Book  as  the  best  motives 
and  safeguards  of  the  individual,  the  home,  the  community  and  nation. 

There  have  been  Sunday-schools  in  the  Orient  from  the  advent  of 
the  first  missionary.  Bible  instruction  for  the  children  has  gone  hand 
in  hand  with  the  work  for  adults.  These  missionaries  had,  most  of 
them,  received  their  call  to  service  and  first  training  in  the  Book  while 
in  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  homeland.  They  have  made  the  Sunday- 
school  an  important  part  of  the  work  of  missions. 

The  character  of  this  Sunday-school  work,  as  conducted  by  the  mis- 
sionaries, was  shaped  by  the  form  of  the  Sunday-school  at  the  time 
when  they  left  the  homeland,  and  bj'  the  necessities  of  the  environ- 
ment of  the  native  Sunday-school  work,  an  environment  circumscribed 
by  limited  quarters,  lack  of  lesson  material  and  quality  and  number 
of  teachers. 

The  missionary  was  frequently  the  only  teacher  and  the  Bible  lesson 
taught  to  all  ages  at  one  time,  and  the  dome  of  the  building  God’s  blue 
sky.  As  children  and  parents  were  alike  ignorant  of  the  Bible  this 
simple  plan  of  Sunday-school  work  was  effective. 

With  the  grovv^th  of  the  native  church  and  the  educational  work  of 
missions  the  work  of  Bible  instruction  through  the  Sunday-school 
assumed  certain  fixed  forms  in  the  Orient. 

1.  The  Sunday-school  attached  to  the  organized  church,  more  or  less 

graded  according  to  local  conditions  and  leadership. 

2.  The  Sunday-school  composed  of  members  of  Christian  secondary 

schools  and  colleges,  and  taught  largely  by  the  teachers  of  such 
institutions. 


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3.  The  Sunday-school  composed  largely  of  scholars  in  attendance  at 

the  primary  Christian  day  schools  and  taught  usually  by  the 
day  school  teachers,  the  attendance  at  Sunday-school  a condi- 
tion often  of  membership  in  the  school.  The  Bible  is  a text- 
book in  such  schools. 

4.  Missionary  Sunday-schools  of  children  of  non-Christian  parents 

sometimes  called  “heathen”  Sunday-schools,  these  schools  estab- 
lished and  maintained  by  churches  or  secondary  schools  and  col- 
leges, and  taught  by  the  students  in  such  institutions  or  by 
missionaries. 

Several  outstanding  needs  of  the  field  were  clearly  formulated  when 
the  World’s  Sunday-school  Association,  following  the  presentation  of 
the  subject  at  the  Toronto  Convention  eight  years  ago,  began  to  plan 
for  the  Orient. 

1.  Such  organization  of  the  field  as  should  bring  together  the  mis- 

sionaries and  native  workers  in  interdenominational  coopera- 
tive effort  in  order  to  bring  to  bear  the  most  help  possible  for 
the  local  Sunday-school  and  the  local  Sunday-school  worker. 

2.  The  development  of  an  adequate  literature  for  the  field. 

3.  The  training  of  a Sunday-school  leadership  through  the  theo- 

logical seminary  and  Christian  educational  institutions  and 
churches. 

4.  The  need  of  a vision  of  the  Sunday-school  as  the  Bible  teaching 

service  for  the  entire  church  and  community  as  the  surest  and 
sanest  method  for  the  evangelization  and  training  of  the  Orient. 

In  1906  the  World’s  Sunday-school  Association,  in  cooperation  with 
the  missionary  organizations,  sent  a commissioner  to  Hawaii,  Japan, 
Korea  and  China  to  ascertain  conditions  and  assist  in  developing  these 
objects,  namely,  organization,  literature,  leadership,  vision.  In  1911  a 
commissioner  visited  these  fields  and  the  Philippines.  Organization  was 
effected,  institutes  held,  methods  suggested,  exhibits  shown,  inspira- 
tion given,  and  the  missionaries  and  native  workers  felt  the  heart- 
beat and  hand-clasp  of  the  organized  Sunday-school  work  as  members 
of  the  world’s  Sunday-school  family. 

This  vital  touch  upon  the  five  fields  represented  in  this  report  has 
been  increased  by  the  World’s  Sunday-school  Association  through  the 
furnishing  of  secretaries,  by  the  development  of  headquarters  at  centers, 
through  correspondence  and  literature. 

In  the  development  of  the  work  of  Commission  No.  4 on  the  Con- 
ditions, Needs  and  Opportunity  of  Sunday-school  work  in  the  Orient 
the  following  plans  have  been  employed: 


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1.  The  best  expert  knowledge  was  obtained  from  secretaries  of  mis- 

sion boards  conversant  with  the  field,  from  laymen  and  others 
who  had  visited  these  countries,  and  from  missionaries  from 
the  fields  who  were  on  furlough  in  America. 

2.  An  all-day  conference  was  called  by  the  chairman  in  Philadel- 

phia of  those  most  closely  informed  as  to  actual  conditions, 
such  as  Bishop  Harris,  of  Japan  and  Korea;  Dr.  George  Heber 
Jones  of  Korea;  Dr.  Gamewell  of  China,  and  Rev.  James 
McLaughlin  of  the  Philippines.  Some  who  could  not  be  pres- 
ent, such  as  Bishop  Bashford  of  China,  and  Bishop  Oldham 
of  the  Philippines,  sent  valuable  communications. 

3.  Commissions  related  to  the  General  Commission  were  formed  in 

each  of  the  five  fields  under  investigation,  and  consisted  of 
some  of  the  best  Sunday-school  leadership  in  each  country. 
These  commissions  developed  information  by  means  of  ques- 
tionnaires sent  out  to  native  workers  in  the  language  of  each 
field,  covering  so  far  as  possible  every  Sunday-school  and  the 
key  workers  in  these  countries.  Each  of  these  local  commis- 
sions has  made  its  own  report  to  the  General  Commission. 

4.  Questionnaires  were  sent  to  the  key  missionaries  in  the  five 

countries. 

5.  Members  of  the  Commission  used  the  opportunity  of  the  recent 

commission  tour  to  the  Orient  to  confer  with  leaders  and  ob- 
serve conditions. 

The  result  of  these  investigations,  conferences,  reports  and  obser- 
vations as  related  to  each  field  is  represented  herewith  with  specific 
recommendations  for  the  guidance  of  those  interested  in  these  coun- 
tries. Each  field  has  its  peculiar  conditions  and  needs  growing  out  of 
the  relation  of  religious  education  to  the  customs  of  the  people,  prog- 
ress in  general  education,  attitude  of  the  authorities,  and  vitality  of 
other  religions. 

In  general,  it  may  be  stated  concerning  these  countries  of  the  Orient: 

1.  That  the  Sunday-school  is  the  line  of  least  resistance  in  the 

progress  of  the  kingdom. 

2.  The  opportunity  of  great  Sunday-school  expansion  is  limited  only 

by  lack  of  men,  means  and  methods. 

3.  The  Sunday-school  is  the  natural  link  in  the  reaching  of  the  home. 

The  love  of  the  Oriental  for  children  is  God’s  open  way. 

4.  The  Sunday-school  is  absolutely  needed  as  a feeder  for  the 

church,  as  a source  of  supply  of  material  for  church  educational 
institutions  and  as  the  opportunity  of  training  a leadership  and 
membership  grounded  on  the  Word  of  God  from  their  youth. 


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CHINA 

The  revolution  in  China  has  thrown  wide  open  the  door  to  Christi- 
anity. The  Chinese  leaders  of  to-day  seem  to  be  in  sympathy  with 
Christianity,  even  where  not  openly  professors.  Many  of  these  leaders 
have  been  educated  in  Christian  lands.  In  a wondrous  moment  the 
scepter  of  China’s  future  has  been  thrust  into  the  hands  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  we  stand  amazed  and  awed,  facing  the  two  hundred 
millions  of  the  youth  and  children  of  China  just  waking  up  to  a knowl- 
edge of  their  own  worth  and  possibilities.  But  we  look  up  also  with 
glad  eyes  and  reverent  faith  into  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  China’s 
hope.  And  we  look  down  too  to  the  open  Book.  And  then  we  seek 
for  the  teacher  to  break  this  bread  of  life  to  the  nation  that  may  yet 
control  the  destiny  of  the  world. 

We  turn  first  to  the  organization  charged  with  the  responsibility 
of  the  Sunday-school  work  in  China,  the  China  Sunday-school  Union. 
At  the  1910  convention  of  the  World’s  Sunday-school  Association  the 
British  Sunday-school  Union,  acting  for  the  British  section  of  the 
World’s  Association,  assumed  the  responsibility  for  developing  an 
organized  Sunday-school  movement  in  China.  The  Rev.  E.  G.  Tewks- 
bury was  chosen  as  national  secretary,  commencing  his  work  in  Janu- 
ary, 1911.  The  organization  of  the  China  Sunday-school  Union  fol- 
lowed a few  months  later.  The  Sunday-school  committee  of  the  China 
Centenary  Conference  of  1907  prepared  a tentative  constitution  for 
this  Union,  and  is  at  present  acting  as  its  executive  body.  The  so-called 
First  National  Convention  of  the  union  was  held  in  twelve  sectional 
meetings  at  various  places  during  the  recent  visit  of  the  World’s  Com- 
mission tour  party. 

Headquarters  of  the  union  are  at  Shanghai.  The  immensity  of 
China,  each  province  a proposition  of  many  millions,  makes  imperative 
sectional  organizations,  each  with  a trained  secretary  acting  under  the 
general  secretary.  Some  nine  such  organizations  have  been  effected 
and  one  Chinese  associate  secretary  for  Fukien  Province  employed. 
Good  men  for  associate  secretaries  are  ready  but  cannot  be  employed 
for  lack  of  funds. 

Four  visits  to  China  from  America  have  been  made  by  commissioners 
from  the  World’s  Sunday-school  Association,  one  six  years  ago,  one  two 
years  ago,  and  two  this  year.  During  these  visits,  principally  to  South 
China,  local  organization  has  been  developed  and  inspiration  and  prac- 
tical help  carried  to  the  workers.  The  World’s  Commission  tour  party, 
headed  by  Mr.  Heinz,  covered  principally  Central  and  North  China. 

Before  presenting  a close  view  of  the  Sunday-school  work  in  China 


7 


we  must  consider  in  what  respects  the  work  here  is  of  necessity  dif- 
ferentiated from  the  developed  work  in  Christian  lands  and  from 
much  of  the  other  Sunday-school  work  in  the  Orient. 

1.  The  Sunday-school  is  but  one  of  several  agencies  for  Bible  instruc- 
tion. Others  may  be  mentioned ; for  example,  curriculum  Bible  study, 
as  required  by  most  Christian  schools,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Bible  study  in 
the  higher  schools  and  colleges,  station  classes  for  inquirers  and  cate- 
chumens, evening  Bible  study  classes. 

2.  It  is  composed  in  large  proportion  of  students.  Most  organized 
Sunday-schools  in  China  have  for  their  nucleus,  and  also  for  the  bulk 
of  their  membership,  scholars  from  day  and  boarding  schools.  Ordi- 
nary church  members  are  but  a small  proportion  of  those  who  attend. 
Moreover,  not  a larger  proportion  of  the  total  church  membership  is 
found  in  the  Sunday-school  at  all. 

This  is  not  to  suggest  that  there  are  no  Sunday-schools  for  purely 
heathen  children,  aside  from  these  Christian  day  schools.  These  are 
notable  instances  of  large  success  in  building  up  such  schools. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  secular  education  has  not  yet  been  made  com- 
pulsory by  the  government.  Village  Christian  day  schools  can  thus 
be  a most  common  feature  of  mission  work. 

3.  Not  Accurately  Graded. — Accurate  grading,  based  on  physical  and 
intellectual  development,  is  complicated  by  differences  in  Bible  knowl- 
edge and  in  the  ability  to  read  of  those  who  otherwise  could  be  taught 
in  the  same  grade. 

4.  The  Sunday-school  teachers  are  largely  from  those  who  are 
giving  their  whole  time  to  Christian  work. — The  teaching  force  of  the 
organized  Sunday-school  consists  in  general  of  missionaries,  Chinese 
men  and  women  workers  in  the  regular  employ  of  the  mission  school 
or  church,  and  the  teachers  and  older  students  in  the  schools.  The 
ordinary  lay  membership  as  yet  probably  furnishes  but  a very  small 
proportion  of  the  Sunday-school  teachers. 

It  should  be  noted  that  under  Mr.  Tewksbury’s  use  of  Mr.  Archibald’s 
plan  of  employing  students  in  teaching  small  groups  of  children  there 
is  developing  in  many  educational  centers  a splendid  body  of  young 
men  and  women  who  will  constitute  an  increasing  volunteer  force  for 
teaching  service  in  China. 

5.  The  Sunday-school  is  not  yet  fully  indigenous. — The  aim  and  pur- 
pose and  plan  of  the  Sunday-school  is  not  fully  understood.  Where 
careful  expert  supervision  is  withdrawn,  and  especially  in  country  dis- 
tricts where  the  bulk  of  the  work  lies,  and  where  the  pastor,  untrained 
in  Sunday-school  work,  is  the  superintendent,  the  schools  are  in  danger 


8 


of  becoming  the  expository-preaching-service  type  with  but  little  to 
differentiate  the  Sunday-school  service  type  from  the  preaching  service. 

Mr.  Tewksbury’s  presentation  at  the  recent  tour  party  conventions, 
of  platform  demonstrations  of  this  sort  of  a Sunday-school  in  contrast 
with  the  Sunday-school  of  to-morrow,  graphically  visualized  to  the 
Chinese  the  two  types. 

After  noting  these  differences  between  the  Sunday-school  work  of 
China  to-day  and  in  other  lands  we  have  these  strong  words  from  a 
Chinese  writer  and  Sunday-school  worker,  Mr.  P.  S.  Yi,  an  able  and 
enthusiastic  Sunday-school  superintendent  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  South,  Shanghai ; 

“However,  the  Sunday-school  has  a more  important  place  in  China 
than  it  has  in  America  or  any  other  Christian  nation.  We  all  know 
that  Christianity  has  been  preached  in  foreign  lands  for  many  centuries 
and  its  doctrines  have  already  been  interwoven  into  their  laws  and 
customs,  and  its  influence  felt  in  almost  every  town  and  community. 
But  it  is  quite  different  in  China.  Christianity  is  still  in  its  infancy 
and  most  parts  of  the  country  have  not  yet  had  any  churches ; and  a 
large  percentage  of  our  people  have  never  had  a chance  of  hearing  the 
gospel.  The  Sunday-school  will  no  doubt  be  a sort  of  preparatory  de- 
partment for  the  church.  Ordinary  people  understand  a Sunday-school 
lesson  more  readily  than  a sermon.  A well-organized  and  well-con- 
ducted Sunday-school  will  have  a tremendous  power  in  winning  men 
for  Christ.  Therefore  the  Sunday-school  is  invaluable  to  the  Chinese 
as  a popular  and  easily  accessible  Bible  institute.” 

I.  Statistics 

There  are  3,200  Christian  congregations  in  China.  On  the  basis  of 
returns  from  2,500  of  these,  120,000  is  figured  as  the  grand  total  of 
Sunday-school  scholars  for  China,  but  these  figures  are  probably  under 
rather  than  over,  as  accurate  figures  are  not  obtainable.  The  figures 
from  Fukuen  Province,  however,  where  there  is  a well-developed  day- 
school  plan,  are  of  interest : 


Officers  and  Teachers  482 

Between  3 and  12  2,601 

Between  12  and  20  1,591 

Over  20 1,123 


Total 


5,797 


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II.  Sunday-school  Equipment 

In  general  the  school  is  poorly  equipped.  Very  few  schools  have 
reference  libraries  in  Chinese  or  English.  These  books  are  just  being 
produced  by  the  China  Sunday-school  Union.  Not  a Sunday-school  has 
a building  specially  designed  for  its  purpose,  with  the  accessories  of 
wall  and  relief  maps.  Churches  or  rented  rooms  are  the  usual  housing 
for  the  Sunday-school.  There  is  but  little  separation  of  the  primary 
department  from  the  school  by  a curtain  or  room.  Perhaps  one-fourth 
of  the  schools  have  blackboards,  and  about  the  same  proportion  have 
organs.  Cards  and  colored  pictures  from  America  and  England  have 
been  used  to  attract  attendance.  The  new  China  graded  lessons  with 
accompanying  illustrations  are  serving  a fine  purpose  in  promoting 
interest 


III.  Grading  and  Lessons 

The  grading  in  the  ordinary  Sunday-school  consists  of  classes  for 
children  and  classes  for  men  and  women.  Young  people  in  their  teens 
are  not  found  in  any  number  in  the  ordinary  Sunday-school,  except  in 
stations  where  there  are  boarding  schools  or  higher  educational  institu- 
tions. If  not  in  Christian  schools  they  are  employed  on  Sunday,  often 
from  early  years. 

Of  the  lesson  helps  in  use  90  per  cent,  are  the  International  uniform 
series  and  10  per  cent,  the  excellent  new  graded  lessons  of  the  Union. 
The  China  Sunday-school  Union  issues  over  60,000  lesson  helps  for 
each  Sunday,  and  about  20,000  per  Sunday  are  issued  from  other  sources. 
The  Union’s  output  has  doubled  in  two  years.  These  helps  for  the  use 
of  Chinese  teachers  will  be  greatly  strengthened  by  a supplement  to  the 
teachers’  quarterly,  prepared  by  a Chinese  for  the  Chinese.  Many  of 
the  illustrated  and  other  notes  translated  from  foreign  lesson  helps 
are  not  understood  by  the  Chinese. 

Beginners’  primary  and  junior  lessons  adapted  from  the  Keystone 
leaflets  of  the  International  Sunday-school  lesson  series  have  been 
issued.  Of  the  first  series  of  the  “Beginners,”  the  third  edition  is  now 
in  press  and  the  sales  of  these  graded  lessons  have  aggregated  12,000 
in  a little  over  a year  and  have  not  interfered  with  the  sale  of  the 
Uniform  lessons.  There  is  insistent  demand  now  for  lessons  for  the 
intermediate  department.  These  can  be  used  in  the  many  educational 
institutions.  And  this  demand,  despite  the  revolution,  indicates  the 
greater  attention  being  given  to  Sabbath  Bible  teaching. 

The  China  Sunday-school  Journal,  in  English,  edited  by  the  general 


10 


secretary,  with  lesson  notes  and  general  Sunday-school  information 
and  high-grade  material  for  use  of  Sunday-school  workers,  would  do 
credit  to  any  country. 

IV.  Sunday-school  Session  and  Program 

The  time  of  the  session  is  about  an  hour.  The  program  includes  the 
usual  features  of  song,  prayer,  lesson  reading,  reviews,  calling  of  roll 
and  secretary’s  report,  reciting  of  golden  text  or  other  memory  work. 
The  feature  of  the  Sunday-school  service  is  the  long  summing  up  by 
the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  lesson.  Bibles  are  not  yet 
generally  in  use  in  the  schools,  although  many  have  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Many  of  the  adults,  of  course,  cannot  read. 

The  Scripture  memory  work,  however,  of  the  Chinese  children  is 
remarkable.  Blocks  of  Scripture  are  packed  away  in  memory  with 
facility.  Seven  girls  in  the  Presbyterian  girls’  school  in  Canton  are 
said  to  have  recited  the  entire  New  Testament  from  memory.  What 
magnificent  material  this  for  a great  Bible-school  nation. 

The  usual  special  days  of  the  year,  such  as  Christmas  and  Easter, 
are  observed  by  these  schools. 

V.  The  Pastor  and  His  Work 

As  the  preacher  is  usually  the  Sunday-school  superintendent,  he  is 
necessarily  present  at  the  .Sunday-school  service.  He  is  often  a teacher 
as  well.  His  special  training  for  Sunday-school  service  has  been  prac- 
tically neglected  in  the  past  in  the  theological  seminaries,  as  in  America, 
and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  therefore,  that  the  Sunday-school  of 
which  he  is  director  has  not  risen  above  his  vision  of  it.  But  some 
of  the  seminaries  are  planning  to  correct  their  past  dereliction  in  this 
by  the  introduction  of  special  courses  on  Sunday-school  pedagogy,  psy- 
chology and  methods. 

In  view  of  the  tremendous  need  of  Sunday-school  specialization,  the 
strategic  thing  would  seem  to  be  to  create  at  some  central  point  or 
points  a special  department  on  Sunday-school  pedagogy  and  manage- 
ment, to  train  specialists  for  service  in  institutions  where  pastors  and 
workers  are  being  prepared  for  service. 

VI.  Superintendents 

As  stated  above,  preachers  are  usually  the  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendents. From  the  lay  membership,  and  especially  from  Christian 
students,  we  must  expect  to  draw  our  future  leadership.  For  all  who 


superintend  the  new  correspondence  specialization  courses  of  the  China 
Sunday-school  Union  afford  a splendid  channel  of  training  and  a num- 
ber of  superintendents  have  received  the  first  certificates  for  this  course. 


VII.  Teacher-training 

The  general  character  of  the  teaching  staff  has  been  referred  to  above. 
In  well-developed  Sunday-school  sections,  such  as  the  Fukuen  Province, 
the  personnel  of  the  teaching  force  is  encouraging.  Out  of  482  Sun- 
day-school teachers  and  officers  reported,  the  analyses  show : 


Young  men  from  schools 140 

Young  women  from  schools  90 

Week  day  teachers  of  such  schools 20 

Bible  women  30 

Missionaries  26 

Pastors  47 

Others  129 


For  the  training  of  Sunday-school  teachers  the  China  Sunday-school 
Union  has  issued  a special  course  of  six  books  in  English  and  Chinese. 
These  books  are:  “The  Sunday-school  of  To-morrow,”  by  G.  H.  Archi- 
bald ; “The  Primary  Department,”  by  Miss  Ethel  J.  Archibald ; “The 
Junior  Department,”  by  G.  H.  Archibald;  “Teacher-Training  with  the 
Master  Teacher,”  by  C.  S.  Beardslee;  “Talks  to  the  Training  Class,” 
Hetty  Lee;  “The  Seven  Laws  of  Teaching,”  by  J.  M.  Gregory. 

The  special  gift  of  $1,000  from  the  World’s  Sunday-school  Associa- 
tion has  made  it  possible  to  issue  these  books.  The  sales  already  have 
been  large  wherever  the  books  have  been  presented. 

Handsome  certificates  of  the  China  Sunday-school  Union  are  issued 
to  those  passing  examination  upon  the  first  book  of  the  course,  seals 
being  added  for  each  succeeding  book  mastered. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  Mr.  Heinz  and  members  of  the  commission 
tour  party  to  present  some  of  these  first  certificates  at  various  places 
to  the  bright  young  people  of  the  Christian  educational  institutions  at 
Nanking,  Peking  and  elsewhere,  and  the  eagerness  of  these  young  peo- 
ple for  this  work  is  a promise  of  great  things  for  the  teaching  quality 
of  China’s  to-morrow. 

Two  summer  schools  of  method  at  Ruling  and  Peitaiho,  attended 
by  Chinese  Sunday-school  workers  and  Bible  teachers,  have  been  held, 
covering  a six  weeks’  course.  They  have  been  conducted  by  the  gen- 


12 


eral  secretary  and  select  leaders.  The  results  have  been  highly  com- 
mended. 

Sunday-school  institutes  have  been  held  in  over  a dozen  places.  These 
are  for  Chinese  ■workers  and  last  from  one  to  three  days. 

VIII.  Pupils 

As  the  Sunday-school  scholars  in  China  are  also  largely  in  attendance 
at  the  Christian  day  and  boarding  schools  and  taught  week  day  and 
Sunday  by  the  same  teacher,  the  teachers  are  in  close  contact  with  the 
pupils,  and  plans  ordinarily  necessary  for  close  acquaintance  between 
pupil  and  teacher  do  not  obtain  here.  Home  visitation  by  teachers  is 
not  usual.  The  social  plans  often  include  the  annual  school  rally,  but 
recreation  as  such  has  not  entered  largely  into  the  plans  for  China. 
The  great  field  day  feature  planned  by  Mr.  Tewksbury  in  connection 
with  the  recent  commission  tour  party  visit  was  the  first  large  union 
effort  to  promote  the  social  and  recreational  life  of  Sunday-school 
young  people.  The  great  success  of  those  gatherings  will  doubtless 
lead  to  an  increasing  emphasis  upon  a neglected  need  of  young  life. 
Of  that  Shanghai  field  day  the  Chinese  Mercury  said:  “For  here  was 
young  China  at  its  best.  Young  Shanghai,  a type  of  young  China, 
freed  from  many  of  the  fetters  of  old  superstitions;  emancipated  in 
the  case  of  the  women,  from  the  effects  of  millenniums  of  enforced 
ignorance  and  seclusion;  bright,  cheery,  intellectual;  types  which  any 
country  might  well  be  proud  of,  and  which,  if  China  is  to  be  re- 
invigorated at  all,  may  be  trusted  to  perform  the  task.” 

Consul-General  Wilder,  at  the  Sunday-school  rally  at  Shanghai,  re- 
marked of  these  Chinese  boys  and  girls:  “Give  these  young  people  an 
education  and  they  will  do  as  well  as  your  children  and  mine.” 

IX.  The  Homes 

The  proportion  of  Sunday-school  homes  that  are  probably  Christian 
varies  decidedly  in  different  localities,  Fukuen  reporting  one-tenth, 
Swatow  90  per  cent.,  others  one-half. 

As  the  Sabbath  is  used  as  a day  of  labor  the  hindrance  to  Sunday- 
school  attendance  of  non-Christian  children  is  apparent.  All  days  being 
alike,  children  can  easily  forget  the  Sunday-school  as  such  unless  spe- 
cially interested.  Children  of  the  Christian  day  schools  usually  attend 
the  Sunday-school,  although  in  many  cases  they  are  obliged  to  work 
on  Sunday. 

There  is  practically  no  antagonism  now  to  the  teaching  of  the  Sun- 


13 


day-school.  A great  change  has  come  in  the  last  few  years  and  now 
there  seems  to  be  a strong  movement  toward  Christianity.  The  prob- 
lem will  be  to  care  for  this  movement. 

Sunday-school  interest  could  be  used  as  a great  wedge  into  the  home 
if  teachers  had  time  to  follow  up  this  “open  sesame,”  said  a leading 
worker.  “If  we  can  get  one  million  into  the  Sunday-schools  of  China, 
it  will  mean  one  million  Christians  ten  years  hence,”  and  this  through 
the  direct  influence  on  the  children  and  the  influence  upon  the  home 
through  the  Sunday-school  literature. 

This  question  of  reaching  the  home  of  the  non-Christian  through 
mission  Sunday-schools  and  extension  of  the  day  schools  is  one  of  the 
most  promising  features  of  the  work.  These  schools  can  be  estab- 
lished without  limit  if  there  are  means  and  workers.  Disused  temple 
court  yards  are  being  offered  for  use  for  this  purpose.  Miss  Hughes, 
of  Kiukiang,  has  1,500  heathen  children  in  five  Sunday-schools  in  the 
city,  and  reports  that  the  number  could  easily  be  increased  to  5,000  if 
she  had  the  equipment,  using  graduates  of  the  Bible  school  as  teachers. 
And  the  Chinese  are  eager  to  help  defray  expenses  of  the  primary  day 
schools  if  the  missionaries  will  only  open  these  up  and  send  a student 
as  a teacher.  The  eagerness  of  the  Chinese  for  education  is  impressive. 

Appreciation  for  the  waste  material  sent  from  America  is  thus  ex- 
pressed : 

“A  great  help;”  “Very  helpful;”  “They  often  form  the  brightest  spot 
in  the  home,  and  are  the  most  conspicuous  decoration;”  “They  are  in 
great  demand  among  the  ‘learners’  and  attract  people  to  the  church  and 
Christian  influence;”  “They  are  widely  used  and  eagerly  sought  for;” 
“Intensely  longed  for,  greatly  appreciated,  and  used  to  decorate  the 
home,  and  the  stories  which  the  pictures  illustrate  are  often  told  to 
visitors.” 

X.  Public  Attitude  Toward  the  Sunday-school 

From  the  non-Christian  teachers  of  the  Confucian  classics  there 
would  naturally  be  opposition  to  the  institution  which  gives  emphasis 
to  the  great  Christian  classic,  the  Bible.  The  thoughtful  Chinese  leaders 
who  are  planning  for  a great  future  for  China  recognize  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  the  Confucian  classics  to  make  religious  character,  as  Con- 
fucianism is  a moral  code  and  not  a religion,  and  at  the  present  time 
Christianity  is  openly  welcomed  as  a solvent  of  many  of  China’s  prob- 
lems. Ex-Minister  Wu,  in  welcoming  the  commission  tour  party,  said 
that  China  was  open  to  Christianity,  and  urged  the  Sunday-school 
forces  to  do  everything  possible  to  make  Christians  of  the  Chinese. 

Dr.  Mott  said  recently  that  everything  is  wide  open  in  China  for 
Christianity.  The  opportunity  of  the  centuries  is  here. 


14 


XL  Other  Religious  Systems  and  the  Sunday-school 

China  is  practically  without  a religion.  Its  idols  are  being  openly 
destroyed,  its  temples  are  going  to  decay,  or  are  being  turned  to  Chris- 
tian or  public  uses.  The  children  and  youth  of  China  are  therefore 
growing  up  without  religious  instruction. 

XII.  Church  and  Sunday-school 

In  China  the  church  has  usually  preceded  the  Sunday-school.  While 
the  opportunities  of  extension  of  Christian  work  through  new  Sunday- 
schools  is  limitless  the  missions  have  usually  no  funds  for  this,  even 
if  workers  were  available.  But  the  Sunday-school  is  recognized  as 
absolutely  essential  to  the  church  as  a training  place  for  new  converts 
in  Bible  truth ; it  provides  definite  work  for  church  members  and  trains 
a generation  for  service. 

XIII.  Sunday-school  Support 

Owing  to  the  general  poverty  of  the  Chinese  church,  funds  for  Sun- 
day-school equipment  and  support  must  be  supplemented  from  foreign 
sources.  Some  help  has  been  given  by  some  denominations  for  lesson 
literature,  but  the  development  of  the  work  has  been  handicapped  by 
failure  of  adequate  support.  The  missionaries  have  to  assist  in  many 
places  from  their  own  funds.  The  opinion  is  general  that  results  would 
be  greatly  increased  if  there  were  adequate  funds  and  special  encour- 
agement of  the  work  by  secretarial  supervision. 

XIV.  General 

The  next  ten  years  in  China  offer  unusual  opportunities  for  a great 
Sunday-school  advance.  The  reasons  given  by  workers  are  worth 
noting:  “This  is  a day  of  open  ears.  Shall  the  church  and  Sunday- 
school  speak  unto  them?  They  may  be  closed  or  turned  in  other  direc- 
tions soon;”  “Nurtures  church  membership  in  preparation  for  great 
movement  toward  Christianity.  Prepares  for  compulsory  education 
which  will  take  away  day  school  children  from  Christian  schools 
“The  Sunday-school  is  part  of  a campaign  of  education  and  can  be 
used  to  enforce  the  truth  taught  in  the  day  schools,  but  with  a direct 
effort  to  bring  the  scholar  to  a decision  for  Christ;”  “Awakening  by 
recent  revolution,  Chinese  believe  strongly  in  training  the  children 
early  in  their  own  religions ;”  “This  is  a crisis  in  China  when  China  is 
changing,  when  she  is  ready  and  waiting  to  receive  a new  religious 


15 


teaching;”  “The  Sunday-school  in  China  is  only  in  its  infancy.  All 
that  is  necessary  is  time  for  training  teachers.  As  the  church  grows, 
the  Sunday-school  should  advance  enormously.”  Bishop  Bashford,  in 
a letter  which  is  printed  in  the  full  commission  report,  points  out  the 
hunger  of  the  Chinese  for  education  and  the  opportunity  for  a large 
Sunday-school  advance  in  China,  using  the  opportunity  of  the  Christian 
primary  day  schools.  He  believes  the  Sunday-school  membership  of 
China  could  be  doubled  in  the  next  few  years  by  this  plan. 

To  get  ready  for  this  advance  certain  definite  needs  are  expressed  as 
follows : 

“Literature,  Chinese  trained  Bible  teachers  and  workers.  Training 
schools  and  religious  pedagogical  departments  in  seminaries;”  “Money 
needed  for  training  conference  and  adequate  supplies  and  equipment;” 
“More  places  for  Sunday-schools;”  “Special  training  for  pastors  and 
summer  schools  and  conferences;”  “Decent  places  to  meet;”  “Get  the 
mission  boards  to  appropriate  funds  distinctively  for  the  work  of  the 
Sunday-school.” 

One  Chinese  worker  writes  pathetically  as  to  how  the  World’s  Sun- 
day-school Association  could  be  of  service,  “By  advertising  our  inex- 
pressible need.  Providing  for  translation  of  more  books  into  Chinese. 
Securing  larger  force  of  workers  for  secretarial  detailed  supervision, 
for  conferences,  visitation,”  etc. 

XV.  Commission  Recommendations  Concerning  China 

The  commission  would  recommend  in  view  of  the  above : 

First. — That  the  budget  of  China  be  increased  to  provide  (a)  For  the 
employment  of  at  least  one  Chinese  secretary  for  the  several  important 
districts  of  China;  (b)  for  a publication  fund  for  the  publishing  of 
necessary  literature;  (c)  for  sufficient  office  assistance  to  the  general 
secretary  to  develop  the  present  opportunity. 

Second. — We  urge  the  establishment  in  the  immediate  future  of  one 
or  more  training  schools  or  departments  of  religious  pedagogy  at 
Chinese  centers  to  train  specialists  who  shall  be  engaged  as  leaders  of 
similar  departments  in  the  theological  seminaries  or  other  Christian 
institutions  that  are  training  the  future  Christian  leadership  of  China. 


